Beyond frosting

Reenergize your holiday cookie-decorating tradition with clever new looks. Our plateful of snow-theme treats uses the latest ideas in frostings, icings, drizzles -- and edible embellishments. Click through the next slides to see how you can create these beautiful cookies.

Gumdrop decorations

Gumdrops take on different shapes when you roll them out on a sugared surface and make cutouts with them. We made the hat for a snowman from a black gumdrop, then cut out two round pieces for the head and body. Use hors d'oeuvres cutters or tiny cookie cutters for small shapes. To finish the scene, we added snowflake-shape sprinkles and tiny sugar sprinkles.

Royal treatment

Royal Icing, made in part with powdered sugar and meringue powder, hardens when it dries. We added food coloring to Royal Icing for our sky blue cookie, then dripped white Royal Icing to create polka dots.

Cookie swirls

White and red Royal Icing creates a pretty swirl topping. Use a toothpick to swirl the red dots. If you'd like more decorative touches, use a pastry bag with a writing tip to frost around the edge of the cookie.

Snowflake cookie

A thin glaze captures bright red sugar crystals on this snowflake cutout. For an easy glaze, beat together a cup of sifted powdered sugar, 1/2 teaspoon vanilla and enough milk (1 to 2 tablespoons) to make the right glazing consistency.